Essential Information

How do I book?

Workshops for schools are currently available to book on Thursdays in term time. All school or group visits must be booked in advance. Please use our online workshop enquiry form or contact the North Tyneside learning team to do this.

Please note that our team are often busy teaching but we aim to reply within 3 working days, either by email or phone.

When you enquire about a visit please have the following information to hand:

Name, address and postcode of school

Contact name

Telephone number

Email address

LEA

Number of pupils & year group

Number of SEN students?

Preferred dates

Packed lunch requirements

Access requirements

How much does a visit cost?

Entry to Stephenson Steam Railway is free. However charges apply on all our facilitated workshops on site and in school. Current charges are clearly stated on the website and on any printed material and the table below is a guide only.

Type of workshop

Charge

Duration

Introductory talk or tour, followed by self-led visit

£40

30 minutes led by facilitator

Facilitated workshops

£90

1.15 – 1.30 hours

Half day facilitated workshops

£120

2 hours

Learning Team led tour

£40-60

30 – 60 minutes

Teacher CPD

Free

N/A

Bespoke workshops can be delivered on site and in school, please contact the learning team directly with your request to discuss details.

How do I pay?

Payment:

All facilitated workshops must be paid for in advance of the booked workshop taking place. Once you have provisionally arranged your visit with the learning team, you will be sent a ‘Facilitated Workshop/Visit Confirmation Form ‘to complete and return.

Payment can be made in two ways:

Invoice – Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums will invoice your school for workshop you have booked. If you wish to use this method of payment please email the completed ‘Facilitated Workshop/Visit Confirmation Form’ with the following information:

School name

Full address including postcode

Point of contact (this is usually your school business manager or member of the administration team)

Newcastle City Council Journal request – If you qualify for this method of payment please email the completed ‘Facilitated Workshop/Visit Confirmation Form’ with the following information including your school’s cost code and sub code:

School name

Point of contact (this is usually your school business manager or member of administrator team)

Cost Code and Sub Code

What happens after I have sent my enquiry to the venue?

A member of the learning team will contact you as soon as possible to discuss the details and options available.

Confirmation - Once you have provisionally arranged your visit with the learning team, you will receive a ‘booking’ email. Check all the details on this thoroughly and read the attached Terms and Conditions. If all the information is correct and you want to confirm the booking send back the ‘Facilitated Workshop/Visit Confirmation Form’ within five working days as confirmation.

Failure to confirm your booking within five working days could mean your booking will be cancelled and the slot given to another group.

If you need to amend any details please contact the learning team as soon as possible.

What if I need to cancel my visit?

If you have to cancel a booking please contact the venue immediately to arrange an alternative date.

If Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums have to cancel and no agreeable alternative or re-scheduling is possible then a refund will be offered.

If the school has to cancel the session then we will endeavour to re-arrange or find an alternative where possible. Refunds will not be offered in this instance.

How long does a visit last?

Pre-booked workshops vary in length from 30 minutes to all day, the duration of each workshop is stated on all material related to the workshop and will be agreed when you book your visit. Many schools choose to spend a full day at the venue combining a workshop with a free self led visit.

Is there a Risk Assessment?

Risk assessment is the responsibility of the group leader which means we are unable to provide this for you. However for each venue we have a dowdloadable Hazard Identification Sheet, which, along with your preliminary visit, will help you write your risk assessment. For further help please contact the venue Learning Team directly.

Are there any resources available to help my visit?

Are there any safety issues I need to know about?

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums actively try to make our venues as safe as possible and any specific hazards will be identified on the Hazard Identification sheets. Members of staff are always onsite to ensure, as far as possible the safety of visitors. However, ultimately your pupils are your responsibility, never leave them unsupervised.

Please ensure that your pupils are suitably dressed and are wearing appropriate footwear for the weather and the activities they are participating in.

What should I do on arrival?

Please make your arrival known to a member of staff at reception (in the shop). They will ask you to sign in your group with the exact numbers with you on the day (of staff and adults as well as pupils) and either take you to your base for the day, or let your facilitator know you are ready.

Are there lunch spaces available?

Lunch spaces are available but are limited and all visiting groups who require a lunch space must let us know when making their booking. Confirmation of your lunch space booking will be sent to you on your booking information.

Is there a shop?

There is a shop on site. Please let us know if you intend on visiting the shop; we ask that a maximum of 10 children with a supervising adult visit at any one time to help ensure a quick and efficient experience.

Are there toilets?

How many adults should I bring?

There is no restriction on the number of adults you can bring on a visit; however, we expect all visiting groups to follow current guidelines appropriate for the age and needs of their individual group. It is your responsibility to ensure your pupils safety and responsible conduct whilst visiting the venue. We suggest you prepare your pupils and adult helpers for the visit, ensuring a valuable and enjoyable experience for all.

Certain workshops will have different ratio recommendations. Please ask the venue Learning Team for specific information when booking.